Scheduled to open in the first quarter 2013, the hotels will be located in the commercial centre of Doha just 300 metres apart. Shangri-La Hotel, Doha will feature 252 guest rooms, 42 serviced apartments, an 840m² ballroom, and the group’s signature spa brand, Chi The Spa. Restaurants will include a The Den, a piano bar; Sridan, a Middle Eastern food souk, Fuego, a Latin American outlet; and Shanghai Club, a Chinese restaurant/lounge.

The neighbouring Traders Hotel will offer 238 guest rooms including 44 suites and 84 serviced apartments with kitchenettes. Outlets include a sushi and noodle restaurant and steakhouse and recreation facilities comprise a health club and spa with indoor pool and sun deck.

Shangri-La Doha was first announced in 2002, however the project has been stalled until recently. Doha has been seeing a flurry of luxury hotel openings, with St Regis opening this week, a second Four Seasons scheduled for 2014, Park Hyatt and Mandarin Oriental – both 2014.